Weekly Wrap-Up: 9/30-10/6

In case you missed them, here’s a wrap up of our favorite blog posts of the week. Read, get inspired, and start cooking!

Ingredient Spotlight: Apples
It’s apple season! Read on for some of our best tips on choosing and prepping apples, plus delicious ways to prepare them from the Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen.

Mole-Style Chili with Black Beans and Andouille
This rich-tasting chili is inspired by Mexican mole. Serve with cornbread and jicama slices sprinkled with lime juice and chile powder for a dinner that’s perfect for the first days of fall.

Recipe Roundup: Cozy Weekend Breakfasts
Crisp autumn mornings call for warming dishes that comfort and satisfy. Here’s are some of our favorite recipes for leisurely mornings — gather around the kitchen table, and savor the best of fall flavors.

Fresh Ideas for Fall Vegetable Sides
A new season brings a bounty of ingredients and flavors we love. Shop your farmers’ market, then put a fresh spin on your side dishes with our creative recipes for sweet potatoes, shell beans, broccoli and more.

How to Decorate Skull Cakes
This year, we’ve got the ultimate centerpiece for your Halloween party: a skull cake! We turned to our expert food stylist for creative ways to decorate the cakes baked in our specialty pans. Read on to learn how she pulled it off.

Recipe Roundup: Fall Soups
Fall is the best time to cozy up with a warming bowl of soup or a slow-simmered stew. These dishes are great for busy schedules, too; you can easily serve a crowd or make and freeze a big batch. Here are some of our favorite recipes.

What We’re Reading: The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert Cookbook
In their latest book, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell (aka the Beekman Boys) share desserts that are close to their hearts, which have been passed down through the years and become cornerstones of all gatherings. Read on to read our exclusive Q&A and try a recipe from the cookbook.

Smoked Trout & Apple Salad with Polenta Croutons
Golden polenta croutons flavored with Parmesan add sweet crunch to this elegant salad of delicate flaked trout and crisp sliced apples. It makes a beautiful light lunch or dinner, or a first course at a dinner party.

Recipe Roundup: Creative Crostini
Crostini are the perfect solution for easy entertaining. Here are some of our favorite ideas below; try them as is, then get creative with your own favorite combinations.

Weekend Project: Dry-Cured Bacon
Rub some salt and brown sugar on a pork belly, and three days later you’ll wake up to bacon. It’s that simple! Read on for our step-by-step guide.

Weekend Entertaining: Harvest Dinner
Fall has arrived, and there’s no better time for a dinner party. Showcase the new season’s bounty with a relaxed, comforting meal that’s perfect for sharing with friends — we’ve got the menu and party planning tips to get you started.

Baked Gnocchi with Taleggio, Pancetta & Sage
Pick up packs of fresh gnocchi, the little potato dumplings, to create easy — but filling — dinners in a pinch. Here, they are easily dressed up in a gratin, featuring decadent Italian bacon and cheeses.